Which buildings require an airtightness test?
2023/08/01The Construction Sector Development Agency (SSVA) reminds you that a airtightness test is mandatory for all buildings of energy class A, A+ and A++ before energy certification and declaration of completion.
For Class C and B buildings, the airtightness test is compulsory when the design or construction of these buildings is financed by the Republic of Lithuania or the EU budget and the building permit has been issued or the construction work has started since 1 February 2019.
At the time of the airtightness test, all construction work on the building that may impair the building's airtightness must have been completed. The dates of the measurement indicated in the building airtightness test report and the date of issue of the energy performance certificate shall not differ by more than 12 months.
Building airtightness tests shall be carried out by accredited laboratories.
This requirement is an effective measure to reduce the energy consumption of buildings. In 2016, when Lithuania introduced the obligation to carry out an airtightness test before the building completion, the quality of buildings started to improve rapidly.
Very often, the result of the first airtightness test did not meet the requirements. In such cases, the building had to be redesigned, the defects corrected and the airtightness test repeated.